Homeowner targeted in key fob car theft. Here’s how to protect yourself

ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - A car was recently stolen in the St. Louis area and the victim believes thieves used a technique called a relay attack to take it.

Car theft victim Sherri Brown said her vehicle was stolen even though the car was locked and the key fobs were inside the house.

Vehicle taken overnight

Brown’s 2017 Nissan Maxima was stolen sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning. The vehicle was parked on an off-street parking pad beside her house. When she woke up Monday, it was gone.

“No signs of forced entry, no broken glass. Not any signs of forced break-in,” she said.

How a relay attack works

One thief stands next to a house with a device that captures the signal from a key fob inside. It boosts the signal strength enough that a car parked in the driveway picks it up like the key fob is right next to it.

The door unlocks, and the thieves can get in, push the button and drive away.

“Nissan Maximas, to my knowledge, are not known to be heavily stolen cars. And that method is not easy to do, but it can happen,” Brown said.

Protecting key fobs

Key fobs can be protected by keeping them in a signal-blocking holder. They are sold online by Home Depot and Best Buy. Brown regularly uses one, except Sunday night.

“I had planned on going out that evening, so I left my keys in my purse versus putting them back in the key fob protector,” Brown said.

The theft of her car comes at a time when extra expenses forced her to cut costs. She only has liability insurance.

“I own the car, it was 10 years old, and I thought that was something realistic to cut from my budget temporarily. So, wrong choice I guess,” Brown said.

If a signal-blocking holder is not used for key fobs, it’s recommended they be kept as far away as possible from the exterior of the home.

Citywide auto theft trends

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department crime statistics show vehicle thefts are dropping. In the Tower Grove South neighborhood, auto thefts are down 13% so far this year. Citywide auto thefts have declined 15% over this time last year.